An award-winning Gretna restaurant has been forced to close its doors almost seven months after relaunching.
No staff are to lose their jobs in the decision announced by one of Dumfriesshire’s biggest employers, Gretna Green Ltd, on Friday.
Executive chairman John Holliday has blamed a worsening economic climate and the current cost of living crisis’ affect on the hospitality industry for the demise of the Greens Bar & Restaurant.
Greens – formerly the Garden House Hotel – was bought out of administration by Gretna Green Ltd in 2016.
They operated it as “The First Hotel in Scotland” until the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and it was closed for almost three years.
In June last year it reopened as Greens at Gretna Bar & Restaurant offering local and family-oriented dining, which the family-run business hailed as a new life as “The First Restaurant in Scotland”.
In October it was hailed as an up-and-coming eatery when it won the Best New Restaurant Award at the 2023 Food Industry Awards.
Mr Holliday said: “It’s with a heavy heart that we make this announcement and we’ve moved staff into other parts of our weddings business.
“We had the pleasure of serving the local community and visitors alike and we are immensely grateful for the support and patronage we have received.”
Through five generations of ownership since 1885, the family-owned and operated business – which employs around 250 people – has been at the heart of Gretna Green and Dumfries and Galloway local history.
